Huntington artist's painting hangs in U.S. Capitol

Rich colors and an attention to detail that make viewers question if they're staring at a photograph is the initial draw.

With a closer look, the items begin to tell a story.

"It is meant to look like an interesting painting but then the deeper you get into it, the more information you get," said Huntington Beach artist Gary Kutscher. "It's a visual biography."

Every item in each of Kutscher's paintings was tirelessly researched then carefully selected to tell the story of the political subject. So far, he has completed paintings of presidents Ronald Regan, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.

Kutscher's unique take on historical portraits gained the attention of Pennsylvania Congressman Bill Shuster who commissioned the Huntington Beach resident in May to paint a piece for Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, John A. Boehner.

The piece was a gift from the 112th and recently elected 113th Congress, Kutscher said.

"He was very much surprised and taken aback," he said of the speaker, who received the painting on Jan. 14.

The piece now hangs in the Speaker's conference room at the Capitol Building in Washington D.C.

Kutscher, 53, worked with Boehner's staff, obtained pictures of his office and researched his life to craft the piece that depicts Boehner's desk overlooking the National Mall.

Each item offers an insight into Boehner personal life and political influences.

A note from his Moeller High School football coach, Gerry Faust, sits in the foreground. Faust became nationally known when he took over as head coach for Notre Dame from 1981-85. Boehner often quotes the coach in his speeches: "There's nothing in life you can't achieve if you're willing to work hard enough and make the sacrifices necessary to succeed."

This quote along with a personal note from Faust obtained by Kutscher when he spoke with Faust as part of his research sits in the foreground of the piece.

The U.S. Constitution, Boehner's personal bible, history books such as President Ronald Reagan's diaries, his reading glasses and the Speaker's favorite bottle of wine also play into the composition.

A book of matches that reads, Andy's Café, honors the pub his father ran for many years where Boehner had his first job at age 8. Boehner's first job was working in that pub, according to Kutscher's research.

One of the focal points of the painting is a portrait of Boehner's family. Kutscher said the portrait is clustered with other items that pay tribute to the Speaker's faith and family.

"With the speaker, he is a very strong family man," Kutscher said. "His family is incredibly important to him."

Boehner's piece was the first commission for Kutscher but many people have purchased replicas of his pieces and he has donated some to charity, he said.

In his Huntington Beach home, his pieces hang on the wall in his living room, dining room and his upstairs studio.

In a painting depicting President Ronald Reagan, jelly beans, a bottle of Jordan Cabernet, a newspaper clipping declaring the Berlin Wall had fallen, and a note from Nancy Reagan are some of the items that give insight into Regan's life as a man and a leader.

President Abraham Lincoln's iconic hat serves as a focal point in the piece portraying America's 16th president. The Emancipation Proclamation and Jack the Doll, which Lincoln's sons played with to reenact the trials of a soldier at war, are among many other items of Lincoln's painting.

"It's basically telling a story about a person but I do it from a visual context," he said. "Part of my desire on the Lincoln or Roosevelt piece is someone who doesn't know the person at all will find it interesting."

Kutscher said he might next like to do a piece on the Founding Fathers or President John F. Kennedy.

As race director for the OC Marathon, a husband and a father to two boys, Kutscher said he finds time to paint whenever he can – at night when the kids go to bed or sometimes on the weekend.

From a young age, Kutscher said he was drawn to realism and always had a passion for history.

He graduated from the Southern Illinois University School of Art and also studied in Paris, France for several years where he mastered the "technique mixte", which is how he creates his pieces.

The technique includes first painting in various shades of brown until the painting is finished. Kutscher then lays color glazes on top until he achieves the pigment he wants.

This comes after at least six months of research and collecting items he wants to include. Inevitably, Kutscher said he always has more than he can fit into one piece.

"As you're reading and learning about something you may not be familiar with ... you may go down certain paths," Kutscher said. "As I really get into the subject, a path becomes more visible and certain things I thought would make the final cut, don't."

Kutscher's at-home studio is a wealth of historical artifacts that help make his pieces come to life.

After months of research, he chooses the items that he will paint and arranges them on a small table and starts to draw. He then executes his French technique until the piece is done.

Kutscher said it takes about a year to research, draw and paint the piece.

He said his art appeals to history buffs but also those who appreciates realism and is drawn to his art simply for aesthetic reason.

"I just think it's multi-faceted and when the story comes out, it adds a different layer," Kutscher said. "Ideally, I'd like for people to like the piece without necessarily knowing the 1,000 words it takes to describe it."

Historical art

Artist Gary Kutscher paints historical biographies including pieces depicting Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln, among others. Here are some of the details in those works.

Ronald Reagan: Jelly beans, a bottle of Jordan Cabernet, a newspaper clipping declaring the Berlin Wall had fallen, and a note from Nancy Reagan are some of the items that give insight into Reagan's life as a man and a leader. A family Bible that Reagan used at his first inauguration, a Parker 75 fountain pen and a leather placard that reads, "It CAN Be Done" also sit on his desk.

Abraham Lincoln: The president's iconic hat serves as a focal point in the piece portraying America's 16th president. The Emancipation Proclamation and Jack the Doll, which Lincoln's sons played with to reenact the trials of a soldier at war, are among many other items in Lincoln's painting. The family's Bible and several others books including the "War Powers of the President" are also featured.

Theodore Roosevelt: An avid reader and author of more than 30 books, Roosevelt's piece is filled with literary works, including the first book he wrote, "The Naval War of 1812." A teddy bear, a photo of his wife, and a Rough Rider uniform are also represented in the history-rich piece. A speech with a bullet hole in it represents an assassination attempt in 1912 as he addressed the "Bull Moose" party.